Air Force Col. Ryan Herman, right, commander of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group, receives the unit guidon from 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing commander Col. Jordan Norman during a change of command ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain, on July 10, 2025. Less than four months later, on Nov. 7, 2025, Norman relieved Herman of command, citing a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. (Jett Morgan U.S. Navy)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The commander of an Air Force unit at Naval Station Rota in Spain was relieved of duty on Friday after serving less than four months in the role.

Col. Ryan Herman was removed from his post as head of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group because of a loss of confidence in his ability to command, the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany said in a statement Friday.

No additional details were provided, and the wing did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.

Herman, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, had led the group since July 10. He previously commanded the 725th Air Mobility Squadron at Rota from June 2019 to July 2021.

Lt. Col. James Johnson, previously the group’s director of operations, has been named interim commander.

The 521st Air Mobility Operations Group oversees three squadrons and supports the deployment and sustainment of joint forces across Africa, Asia and Europe, according to the statement.